Staten Island ‘Santa’ removes the hassle of picking out a Christmas tree, will deliver one to your door

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The yearly trek to choose a Christmas tree for some is more of a hassle than fun. From carrying it out of the lot, to strapping it onto the car and erecting it in your home, the process can be time consuming.

For this reason, Huguenot resident Igor Yakovlev recently bought a pre-existing New Jersey-based business, Holly Jolly Christmas Trees, which delivers holiday evergreens — complete with Santa Claus, elves and even cookies and milk. And he expanded the service to Staten Island.

And Yakovlev, who is a school paraprofessional by day, is no stranger to small business ownership. He and his wife, Ashley, own several mom and pop shops, including the Willowbrook-based Beezy Beez Honey & Cannabis, which sells homemade honey and other items, such as THC products, and Udderly Delicious, a farm fresh milk route.

“We deliver fresh Christmas trees to your doorstep dressed as elves, or you can upgrade for a Santa or a Grinch,” said Yakovlev, noting he sells Fraser and Balsam Fir trees of various shapes and sizes. “You can also have a milk and cookies package. We bake the fresh cookies and deliver it with the tree — or without the tree — with our freshly bottled milk.”

HUSTLING TO MAKE A BUCK

Ever since he can remember, Yakovlev has had to hustle to make ends meet.

Born in the Ukraine, he immigrated to the U.S. with his family at age 4. Growing up, he was always trying to make money.

“I remember collecting cans underneath the Cropsey Avenue underpass in Brooklyn so I could buy a toy. I always had a job –pretty much since the age of 12. Even in high school, I would sell Cup of Noodles and candy for 50 cents to $1 to students to make some extra cash because things were not easy. I graduated New Dorp…